U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Announces Four New Board Members at Annual Meeting

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Announces Four New Board Members at Annual Meeting

James Adams, Steve Geick, Amanda Rinehart and Blair Van Zetten elected November 7 to serve on U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® Board of Directors.

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., (November 15, 2017) – Representing the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, John Deere, DuPont Pioneer and American Egg Board, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance’s® (USFRA®) newest board members are critical to ensure farmers and ranchers are present in influential conversations about food and agriculture. James Adams, Steve Geick, Amanda Rinehart and Blair Van Zetten join the 18-member Board of Directors. USFRA welcomes these new board members, and the American Egg Board, to our organization which is comprised of more than 100 affiliates and industry partners.

“We’re pleased to have such talented individuals join as Directors and help our organization engage with consumers and food influencers about how their food is grown and raised,” said Brad Greenway, USFRA Chairman and South Dakota crop and livestock farmer. “In my second year as chairman, I am proud to lead this group that is so passionate in answering consumers’ questions about the use of GMOs, animal care and health, as well as other sustainable agricultural practices.”

USFRA elected these four board members at its Fall board meeting on November 7 in Kansas City, Mo:

James Adams, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association – Jim is a former chairman of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of the Wenger Group and Acting Chief Operating Officer of Wenger Feeds, LLC in Rheems, Pa. He resides in Mount Joy, Pa., with his wife, Karen.

Steve Geick, John Deere – Steve is the Director of Industry Relations for John Deere’s Agricultural and Turf Division. He works with stakeholders across North America who share an interest in the future of agriculture, and he proactively builds and promotes influential relationships, programs and policies in his role.

Amanda Rinehart, DuPont Pioneer – Amanda is the U.S. Marketing Leader for DuPont Pioneer, where she manages a team focused on seed product strategy and promotion as well as strategic account sales management. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation. Amanda resides in Johnston, Iowa, with her husband Jeremy and their two children.

Blair Van Zetten, American Egg Board – Blair is the President of Oskaloosa Food Products, a processor of liquid, frozen and dried eggs. He is the Immediate Past Chairman of the American Egg Board and works with his son on their third-generation family farm in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

During the board meeting, USFRA showcased its consumer-facing activities in 2017, including SMART Farm, Straight Talk on Sustainability, Discovering Farmland and Faces of Farming & Ranching. Additionally, USFRA unveiled its upcoming programs and major initiatives for 2018, including the Food Evolution film promotion and enhanced distribution and its new app, engAGe, which aims to activate farmer and rancher voices on digital and social media platforms.